Wheels that look as good as, if not better than, new

Complementary Modification:

Have the wheels bead blasted before priming and painting the wheels

Here are the steps I used to paint the Mahle wheels on my
Limited Edition 914. Read all the instructions through before starting. There
is a materials list at the end.

Step 1. Wash the wheels and wipe them down with a good
wax and grease remover.

Step 2. Media-blast the wheels. Don't use sand
or a harsh abrasive. Use plastic or walnut chips, they're less hard on the
metal. Remove any old paint or dirt that you couldn't get off with washing.

Step 3. Wipe down with wax and grease remover again,
then mask off the wheel. Go to your local auto body supply shop and ask for a good
automotive quality masking tape that contains plastic. Spend an extra 2 or 3 dollars
and get the good stuff, you'll be happier in the next few steps. Be sure to mask the
back side of the wheel. Cover ALL the holes.

Step 4. Put on some latex gloves (surgical type) and
wipe the wheels down again with wax and grease remover. Then, rinse the floor down
gently with water. It will help keep the dust down when you paint.

Step 5. (You still have gloves on, right?) Paint the
wheel with Wurth silver wheel paint. For you concourse weenies, this is stuff the
factory used. I got my Wurth from Pelican
Parts. I used 4 thin coats of paint, and waited 20 minutes between each
coat. Don't hurry, don't spray it heavy - it'll run.

Step 6. Wait until the paint is COMPLETELY dry for the
next step. I waited overnight. (If you're just going to paint your wheels
silver, then stop here, and use Wurth clear to clearcoat the wheels.) Cover the
wheels to prevent dust from gathering.

Step 7. Put on a new pair of latex gloves. At
this point you're ready to mask the wheel again. Remember buying that good tape in
step 3? Now you'll be happy you did. Mask the wheel again along the inside
edge. The tape will stretch a bit, so be sure you're matching the inside curve of
the wheel. Place the tape down and smooth it gently but firmly. Don't press
hard, or when you remove it, you'll pull up some of the silver. After masking the
edge, then mask over the rest of the area.

Step 8. Then, rinse the floor down gently with
water. It will help keep the dust down when you paint. Spray your color coat
according to manufacturer's instructions. I used a custom mix PPG color to match my
sidestripes and rocker panels. It took 5 coats of Summer Yellow to completely cover
the silver. While you're spraying color, you may want to rotate the wheel a bit to
get the inside lips of the holes.

(When you buy your color, you may need to purchase reducer or
other chemicals. Ask your auto body supply store for advice. Whatever brand of
color you use, make sure you get your clear coat in the same brand. Don't mix brands
- their products are often not compatible, and will create a huge mess.)

Step 9: Wait until the paint is completely dry
according to manufacturers directions.

Step 10: Slowly and gently unmask the wheels.
When you pull off the masking tape, pull it back in the opposite direction. Do not
pull it straight up and off. This will help prevent the silver paint beneath from
lifting.

Step 11: Check the rest of your masking tape and
paper. Make sure it's all in place.

Step 12: Then, rinse the floor down gently with
water. It will help keep the dust down when you paint. Mix and spray your
clear coat according to manufacturer's instructions. To save money, I used the
leftover PPG clear coat from when I painted my car. If you get a run in your clear, don't
panic. Keep spraying as normal, and you can fix it later.

(NOTE: Regardless of what brand of clear you use, test
it by spraying some over the Wurth silver on a test card. If the clear bubbles up or
the Wurth streaks, the clear may not be compatible. Better to find out before you
spray your wheels.)

Step 13: Wait for the wheels to dry according to the
manufacturer's directions (probably about 8 hours or so). If got a run in the clear,
now is the time to fix it. Take a new razor blade (not a utility knife blade) and
shave the run down. Sand gently with 800 grit sandpaper. Then, spray 1-2
medium coats of clear.

Step 14: Unmask your wheels gently. I gave the
wheels an additional 3-4 days of dry time before having them balanced and mounted on the
car. Probably not necessary, but I was playing it safe. Insist your tire shop
put the wheel weights on the INSIDE of the wheel.

Comments: No, the cup design were added from the previous owner and he must have like them black but I don't. What can be done to strip these wheels and either polish or repaint in the normal factory look? If repainting, what is the factory paint to use?

November 22, 2010

Followup from the Pelican Staff: The best recommendation is the silver Wurth wheel paint that we sell in the catalog. Wurth is an OEM supplier to Porsche, and this paint is probably the best match overall. - Wayne at Pelican Parts

Armand

Comments: I purchased a 1988 Porsche Targa and the car came with black painted Cup Design wheels later version and I would like to go back to the original polished color. Was this a painted color or natural brushed aluminum? If so,what could I use to strip the black color? Thanks for any info you can give.

November 1, 2010

Followup from the Pelican Staff: 1988 cars didn't come with this wheel, as far as I know. I think the later 964 ones did. The 1988 cars typically came with Fuchs alloys, but the Phone Dials (yes, believe it or not) were the standard option I believe (I have a factory brochure that shows the car with those wheels on it, as the stock option). Nearly 100% of the cars were ordered with an appearance upgrade, which included the Fuchs alloys. - Wayne at Pelican Parts